The Monk and the Gun | |
---|---|
Directed by | Pawo Choyning Dorji |
Written by | Pawo Choyning Dorji |
Produced by |
|
Starring |
|
Cinematography | Jigme Tenzing |
Edited by | Hsiao Yun-Ku |
Music by | Frederic Alvarez |
Production companies |
|
Distributed by |
|
Release dates |
|
Running time | 107 minutes |
Countries |
|
Languages |
|
Box office | $1.01 Million [6] [7] |
The Monk and the Gun is a 2023 drama film directed, written and co-produced by Pawo Choyning Dorji, [8] and starring Tandin Wangchuk, Deki Lhamo, Pema Zangmo Sherpa, Tandin Sonam, Harry Einhorn, Choeying Jatsho, Tandin Phubz, Yuphel Lhendup Selden and Kelsang Choejay. [9] It is an international co-production between Bhutan, Taiwan, France, the United States, and Hong Kong. [10]
The Monk and the Gun premiered at the 50th Telluride Film Festival on 1 September 2023. It was selected as the Bhutanese entry for the Best International Feature Film at the 96th Academy Awards, [11] and was one of the 15 finalist films in the December shortlist. [12] The film was theatrically released in North America on 2 February 2024, [6] and is scheduled to be released in France on 26 June 2024. [7]
This article needs an improved plot summary.(June 2024) |
In 2006, as Bhutan prepares to hold its democratic election, Bhutanese government stages a mock election as a training exercise. In the town of Ura, an old lama instructs young monk Tashi to procure some firearms by way of preparation for the impending upheaval. Meanwhile, American visitor Ron Coleman arrives in the country to acquire for a weapons collector an antique rifle - which by chance falls into the monk's hands. [13] [14]
The Monk and the Gun had its world premiere on September 1, 2023, at the 50th Telluride Film Festival, [15] and then screened on September 9 in the Centerpiece section of the 48th Toronto International Film Festival. [16] [17] It was also invited at the 28th Busan International Film Festival in the 'A Window on Asian Cinema' section [18] and at the 18th Rome Film Festival, where it was screened in October 2023. [19]
In October 2023, Roadside Attractions acquired the North American distribution rights to the film. [20] The film's North American release was on February 2, 2024. [21] [6]
The film was released on 2 May 2024 in Italy (where it grossed $315 thousand, as of 3 June 2024 [update] ). It is scheduled to be released in France and Belgium on 26 June 2024; in Germany on 1 August and in Spain on 9 August 2024. [7]
On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes , 94% of 48 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 8/10.The website's consensus reads: "Surrounding its poignant insights with a gentle layer of crowd-pleasing comedy, The Monk and the Gun is a timely political satire that underscores the fragility of democracy." [22] Metacritic , which uses a weighted average , assigned the film a score of 74 out of 100, based on 13 critics, indicating "generally favorable" reviews. [23]
Deadline Hollywood's chief film critic Pete Hammond called it one of the best films in the 50th Telluride Film Festival, writing that there was "no sophomore jinx here, this one is even better than Pawo Choyning Dorji's first, and that is saying something", and that the director "presents a gentle satirical jab at American democracy, but shows the difficulties of changing a society whose pure and lovely innocence stands in the way of a political revolution, even as they are also just discovering James Bond and The Spice Girls". [24]
Alex Billington of the First Showing described the film as "a fascinating philosophical look at life in Bhutan, which was told with confidence and filmed absolutely perfectly", hailing it as "a brilliant satirical commentary on America's stubborn ways, as opposed to the more sensible Bhutan society based in Buddhism. Not only is watching The Monk and the Gun such a pleasant and uplifting experience, it's the kind of film that will leave you profoundly affected by the story." Billington further added that the film was "one-of-a-kind", and that it "[provided] a profoundly distinct perspective on Buddhist philosophy and Himalayan culture that many are entirely unfamiliar with and can't quite make sense of". [25]
Reviewing the film for The Hollywood Reporter , Stephen Farber praised performances of the entire cast, the film's humour and its fast-paced narrative, whilst criticising the plot's excessively contrived development. [26]
The Monk and the Gun won the Showcase Audience Choice Award for the 2023 Vancouver International Film Festival. [27]
The film was awarded the Special Jury Prize at the 2023 Rome Film Festival. [28]
Bhutan's early history is steeped in mythology and remains obscure. Some of the structures provide evidence that the region has been settled as early as 2000 BC. According to a legend it was ruled by a Cooch-Behar king, Sangaldip, around the 7th century BC, but not much is known prior to the introduction of Tibetan Buddhism in the 9th century, when turmoil in Tibet forced many monks to flee to Bhutan. In the 12th century, the Drukpa Kagyupa school was established and remains the dominant form of Buddhism in Bhutan today. The country's political history is intimately tied to its religious history and relations among the various monastic schools and monasteries.
Thimphu is the capital and largest city of Bhutan. It is situated in the western central part of Bhutan, and the surrounding valley is one of Bhutan's dzongkhags, the Thimphu District. The ancient capital city of Punakha was replaced by Thimphu as capital in 1955, and in 1961 Thimphu was declared as the capital of the Kingdom of Bhutan by the 3rd Druk Gyalpo Jigme Dorji Wangchuck.
Jigme Dorji Wangchuck was the 3rd Druk Gyalpo of Bhutan.
Buddhism is the state religion of Bhutan. According to a 2012 report by the Pew Research Center, 74.7% of the country's population practices Buddhism.
The various mass media in Bhutan have historically been government-controlled, although this has changed in recent years. The country has its own newspapers, television and radio broadcasters and Internet Service Providers.
Princess Sonam Dechen Wangchuck is a princess of Bhutan. She is the daughter of the Fourth King of Bhutan Jigme Singye Wangchuck and Queen Mother Dorji Wangmo Wangchuck. She is half-sister of the fifth King, Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck.
The development of Bhutanese democracy has been marked by the active encouragement and participation of reigning Bhutanese monarchs since the 1950s, beginning with legal reforms such as the abolition of slavery, and culminating in the enactment of Bhutan's Constitution. The first democratic elections in Bhutan began in 2007, and all levels of government had been democratically elected by 2011. These elections included Bhutan's first ever partisan National Assembly election. Democratization in Bhutan has been marred somewhat by the intervening large-scale expulsion and flight of Bhutanese refugees during the 1990s; the subject remains somewhat taboo in Bhutanese politics. Bhutan was ranked 13th most electoral democratic country in Asia according to V-Dem Democracy indices in 2023 with a score of 0.535 out of 1.
The Silver Medallion is an award given by the Telluride Film Festival in recognition of achievements in the film industry.
Lunana is a remote village in Gasa District in northwestern Bhutan. It is the capital of Lunana Gewog, which had a 2014 population of 810.
The Royal Order of Bhutan is a medal awarded by the King of Bhutan. It was established by Jigme Dorji Wangchuck in 1966 and redesigned in 2008.
Bathpalathang Airport is a domestic Bhutanese airport in Jakar (Bjakar), Bumthang District. One of only four airports in the country, it opened on 17 December 2011 with flights to Paro. The airport suspended operations in July 2012 due to runway damage, but it has since reopened to limited service.
Tulku Jigme Chhoeda became the 70th Je Khenpo of Bhutan in 1996, and became the longest-serving holder of the office.
Lunana: A Yak in the Classroom is a 2019 Bhutanese drama film directed by Pawo Choyning Dorji in his feature directorial debut. The film had its world premiere at the BFI London Film Festival. It was a nominee for Best International Feature Film at the 94th Academy Awards.
Pawo Choyning DorjiDruk Thuksey is a Bhutanese filmmaker and photographer. His feature directorial debut Lunana: A Yak in the Classroom (2019) was nominated for Best International Feature Film at the 94th Academy Awards. His second film The Monk and the Gun (2023) was shortlisted for the Best International Feature Film for the 96th Academy Awards.
Tandin Bidha is a Bhutanese film actress and producer. She has acted in over 30 films till date. She first appeared in “Home sweet Home”.
Becoming Cousteau is a 2021 American documentary film directed and produced by Liz Garbus. It follows the life and career of Jacques Cousteau.
The MAMI Mumbai Film Festival 2023 took place between 27 October and 5 November 2023 in Mumbai, India. It was the first in-person edition of the MAMI Mumbai Film Festival since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, and it was also the final edition with Anupama Chopra serving as the Festival Director. Indian-American filmmaker Mira Nair was named the Head of Jury for the South Asia Competition.